Petrie-Flom Intern’s Weekly Round-Up, 2/28-3/7

By Chloe Reichel

The majority of people in La Crosse, Wisconsin have advance directives. The initiative to increase the utilization of advance care planning began as a way of helping patients, but resulted in large decreases in health care expenditures.

Due to Texas’ recently passed regulations on abortion clinics, two clinics closed this week. Abortion clinics in Texas are required to have a physician with admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic under the new regulations.

A new law passed recently in Arizona would limit access to medication used for medical abortions. Planned Parenthood of Arizona filed a lawsuit this Wednesday to contest the law.

An HIV-positive baby treated with aggressive drugs immediately after birth was reportedly cured of the disease. This is the second such case of this treatment working, and is a promising development for the future of HIV treatment.

On Wednesday it was announced that Americans will be allowed to keep insurance plans that are not compliant with the Affordable Care Act. These plans will continue to be offered for the next two years.

Two surveys have found that uninsured Americans largely have not signed up for insurance following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Some suggest that the changes to the new healthcare law that have occurred since its adoption may be responsible for these low rates of enrollment.

In Washington state, people who operate medical marijuana dispensaries are worried about the effects of the state’s recent legalization of recreational marijuana. They worry that the increased demand for marijuana will put smaller dispensaries out of business.

Twenty-six states have introduced mandatory programs that emphasize private long-term care over nursing homes. Many states have modeled their plans after Tennessee, but long-term care in this state is suboptimal for many residents.

The Petrie-Flom Center Staff

The Petrie-Flom Center staff often posts updates, announcements, and guests posts on behalf of others.

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